Disability Resources

Family members and guests with mobility concerns and disabilities are welcome and encouraged to participate in Commencement Weekend activities. Please take a moment to review the available accommodations and resources below. Should you require assistance, please submit your request by Friday, May 22. Click HERE to download a request form.

Event Accommodations:

General Resources:


Contact the Diversity & Access Office

Event Accommodations

Baccalaureate Celebration

The Baccalaureate celebration will be held at the Main Quadrangle on Saturday, June 13 at 9:30 a.m.. Seating is outside and will be in the direct sunlight, and limited shade is available. 

Parking:  The Oval, located at the end of Palm Drive is reserved exclusively for disabled parking.  Guests displaying any state-issued or temporary disability parking permit may park in the Oval.  Individuals with mobility limitations can be dropped off at the top of Oval (near Serra Mall). Click HERE to download a request form for a temporary permit.

Accessible Entrance: The Main Quad is accessible via a ramp located to the right of the stairs at the front entrance on Serra Mall.  Additional entrances are also accessible via Lasuen Mall and Lomita Mall. 

Mobility Assistance:  A golf cart shuttle service will be available from Serra Mall, at the top of the Oval, beginning at 8:30am for those needing assistance into the Main Quadrangle.  Golf carts provide return service to the top of the Oval immediately following Baccalaureate. 

Seating:  Wheelchair seating will be reserved in a variety of locations.  Additional seats will be reserved next to wheelchair seating so families can sit together

President's Reception

The President’s Reception will be held on Saturday, June 13 from 3:00-5:00 pm at the Lou Henry Hoover House.  The Reception is located outside in the gardens of the Hoover House in partial sun.

Parking: There is no parking at the Hoover House.  Accessible shuttle service between the campus and the Hoover House will be available.  Shuttles leave Tresidder Memorial Union for the President’s Reception every 10 minutes between 2:45-4:30 p.m..  Shuttles leave the President’s Reception and return to Tresidder every 10 minutes between 4-5:20 p.m..

Accessible Entrance: All entrances to Maples are wheelchair access, however the elevator to access the court level is located at the southwest entrance, near the Maples parking lot.

Mobility Assistance: Once at the Hoover House, golf cart assistance is available for various activities, including viewing several rooms within the house and meeting President John L. Hennessy and Mrs. Andrea Hennessy.

Seating:  There is limited seating at the Reception.  Folding chairs are available near the bottom of the garden.

Class Day Lecture

The Class Day Lecture will be held at Maples Pavilion on Saturday, June 13 from 11:30 am – 12:30pm.  Maples is an indoor, air-conditioned venue. 

Parking: If driving, the nearest disabled parking is located in the Maples Lot, adjacent to Maples Pavilion.  Individuals with mobility limitations can be dropped off in front of Maples along Campus Drive. 

Accessible Entrance: All entrances to Maples are wheelchair access, however the elevator to access the court level is located at the southwest entrance, near the Maples parking lot.

Mobility Assistance: An accessible bus shuttle transportation service will depart from the top of the Oval (Serra Mall) every 15 minutes between 10:30am and 11:30am. 

Seating:  Wheelchair seating will be reserved in a variety of locations on the court level.  In addition, wheelchair seating is available via the elevator to the upper seating area.

Commencement Ceremony

The Commencement ceremony will be held at Stanford Stadium, an outdoor venue, on Sunday, June 14 at 9:30 a.m. Seating will be in the direct sunlight, and no shade is provided. Umbrellas will not be allowed.

Parking: The Sunken Diamond Parking Lot (Lot 1), located via Galvez Street to Nelson Road will be reserved for guests displaying any state-issued or temporary disability parking permit.  Individuals with mobility limitations can be dropped off outside Gate 2 where folding chairs and a wheelchair shuttle service will be available.

Accessible Entrance: All gate entrances to the Stadium are accessible via the tunnels to the concourse level and lower bowl sections.  An elevator is located once inside Gate # to access the upper bowl sections. 

Mobility Assistance: A limited number of ushers with wheelchairs will be available at Gate 2 of the Stadium to assist in escorting people inside the Stadium.  The ushers will drop the guest off near the disability seating and return at the end of the ceremony.

Seating:  Wheelchair seating is located at the Concourse level (via the tunnels) and is limited to one companion per seat.  Individuals who cannot climb stairs or cannot sit in the sun can sit in the Mobility Section, Row W and X in the lower section. Seating is first come, first served

Individual Diploma Award Ceremonies

Individual Diploma Award Ceremonies will be held on Sunday, June 14 beginning approximately one hour after the main Commencement ceremony at the Stadium.  Individual Ceremonies are held at a variety of wheelchair-accessible venues throughout campus.  For individuals with mobility limitations, driving from the main Commencement ceremony to the Individual Ceremony is recommended. Please contact your graduate’s major department or school for more information about accessibility and parking at those sites.

Please note: There is no transportation service provided from the Stanford Stadium to the Individual Diploma Award ceremonies.

General Resources:

Disability Parking

Disability parking spaces, marked in blue, are located throughout the campus. These spaces are reserved for vehicles displaying state-issued (any state) disability placards or license plates; all others will be cited.

Vehicles with disability placards or plates may also park in any other marked spaces on campus, including permit, metered, and time-limit areas.

Temporary Stanford-issued disability parking permits for mobility-impaired guests attending Commencement weekend activities will be available from the Diversity & Access Office. These permits will only be valid in specially designated lots for the Baccalaureate celebration and the main Commencement ceremony. Click HERE to download a request form.

Please Note: If you have a state-issued (any state) disability placard or license plate, you do NOT need the Stanford temporary permit.

Electric Golf Carts & Wheelchairs

For a listing of local electric golf cart suppliers and information regarding the operation of a golf cart while on campus please contact the Diversity & Access Office.

Two local suppliers of wheelchairs are:

Benton Medical, (650) 625-1000
Preuss Pharmacy, (650) 321-8045
Ask vendors if they have a special Stanford rate. Supplies of both golf carts and wheelchairs are limited, so reservations should be made as early as possible.

Please Note: The Diversity & Access Office does not have golf carts or wheelchairs to rent or loan.

Sign Language Interpreting Services

Sign language and oral interpreting services for the deaf and the hearing impaired are available upon request for most Commencement activities. Click HERE to download a request form.

Braille Material

Most printed materials for Commencement can be made available in Braille upon request. Click HERE to download a request form.

For more information about campus accessibility and services, please contact the Diversity & Access Office:

Diversity & Access Office
Stanford University
Mariposa House
585 Capistrano Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8230
Voice: (650) 725-0326
Fax: (650) 723-1791
Email: disability.access@stanford.edu

Please note: All special requests for assistance must be made by Friday, May 22.